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Successful debut for HH Sheikha Fatima Championship
in California

San Francisco – Over 30.000 spectators applauded Leonie Vethaak when the Dutch lady jockey returned to the winners’ enclosure after she rode One Hot Chick to victory in a tight finish in the eighth round of the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship IFAHR at the Alameda County Fair-Pleasanton Racecourse here on Saturday evening, July 6.

“I was very lucky to ride this horse,” a jubilant young lady said later. “I have noticed the American girl (Sandee Beatie) attacking me from the inside, but One Hot Chick lived up to his name and responded keenly when it mattered close home,” she added.

Vethaak became the eighth lady to book a line up in the dream final of the championship in Abu Dhabi on November 11.

“Yes, that’s something great. This is my sixth win in 50 starts and hopefully I will be able to repeat in Abu Dhabi,” she added.

One Hot Chick covered the 1200 metres distance in one minute and 24 seconds to prevail by a length and a half ahead of fast finishing Lenas Hot Philly (Sandee Beatie up).

However, few hours before the race, the English lady jockey Catherine Walton was shocked when her mount and hot favourite Mahra T was scratched on disciplinary grounds. According to the officials of the Arabian races governing body, the connections of the Burning Sand colt failed to comply with the strict rules and therefore Mahra T was disqualified. And a similar action was also  taken against the connections of Ms Dixie in the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup.

Furthermore, the German lady jockey Berit Weber was also unseated by the second favourite Mufv It On Over as the starter said go, and only eight horses have finished the race instead of the originally ten declared runners.

“I don’t know what has actually happened. My horse jumped out very awkwardly and the saddle slipped. Fortunately I didn’t fall down, but I have missed a race which I could have otherwise won,” she said.

Sammy V lands Sheikh Zayed Cup

In the Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Cup, Sammy V made virtually all to emerge the easiest of winners hands and heels under Juan Sanchez. Sammy V left the machines very quickly and picked up nicely to kick away from the rest of the field as the pack turned for home. Golly Bret, ridden by Hugo Herrera was three lengths behind in second and So Big Is Better came with a late run to take third on the line.

“Sammy V is a great horse and has always excited me. I didn’t need more than to shake the reins and he has answered all the questions,” Sanchez said later.

Khalfan Awad Al Nuaimi and Jasem Al Dhanhani attended the race on behalf of the UAE ambassador to Washington and thanked His Highness the President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahayn and His brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai for all their support and backing to sports in general and the equine sport in particular.

“I would like to thank HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, the Mother of the UAE, for the strong they have been giving to the promotion of the Arabian horse and the ladies jockeys around the globe.

Lara Sawaya, Director of  the HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival and Head of International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities (IFAHR) Ladies Racing said: “Once again we would like to thank Her Highness Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Mother of the UAE, Chairwoman of the General Women's Union, Supreme President of the Family Development Foundation (FDF) and Head of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood for her great support which has ensured this series makes a huge impact on women in sport,” she said.  

“When you see more than 30.000 spectators packing the venue and enjoying the thrill of the HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Zayed Arabian Horse Racing Festival you will appreciate the amount of effort which has been made to bring the races to this level.

“The next move of the festival is host two races in Los Angles (Sheikh Zayed Cup and Wathba Stud Cup) this September 11. This race has been added to the 2013 calendar. Next year, the festival will host three races (Sheikh Zayed Cup, HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies World Championship and Wathba Stud Cup) in Colorado to establish a new presence for the festival there to be added to the existing races in Texas and California,” she added.

“We are in fact obliged to the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Emirates Airline and all our valuable sponsors,” she said.

“Now all our activities are streamlined live by Abu Dhabi Sports Channel and online via www.sheikhmansoorbinzayedfestival.com,” she noted.

“We have waited for one year to get the permission for the ladies races in California and at last we are here. We are on the move to establish strong presence for the ladies races elsewhere,” she concluded.

Sam Vasquez, chairman of the Arabian Racing Association of California said they are obliged to the festival pointing out that they have the greatest numbers of Arabian horses in the world and they will be delighted to see more sponsors for the Arabian races coming in.

The HH Sheikh Mansoor Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Global Arabian Horse Flat Racing Festival which is organized by the Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and co-ordinated by Abu Dhabi Sports Council in association with Emirates Racing Authority, IFAHR and Emirates Arabian Horse Society, supported by General Authority for Youth and Sports Welfare and Fegentri with Emirates airlines as the official carrier and sponsored by Tourism Development& Investment Company (TDIC), Invest AD,  Arabtec Holding PJSC, Al Rashid Investment, Areej Al Ameerat, Al Awani General Enterprises, Kabale, Al Wathba Centre, the UAE's General Women's Union, the HH Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Ladies Sports Academy, Abu Dhabi International Hunting and Equestrian Exhibition 2013, Dr. Nader Saab Switzerland, Wathba Stud Farm, Al Wathba Center, Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club, Eastern Mangroves Hotel and SPA and Eastern Mangroves Suites-Abu Dhabi by Jannah and Racing Post.

Source: HH SH Mansoor Global Arabian Flat Racing Festival
Photo: Morhaf Al Assaf